When all is said and done, the Airbus A380 needs 3,000 m (9,800 ft) of runway to take off fully-loaded, while the Boeing 747-8 requires 3,100 m (10,200 ft).

The Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger airliner, requires significant runway length due to its massive Maximum Takeoff Weight (MTOW) of roughly 575 tonnes. At sea level and standard atmospheric conditions, a fully loaded A380 needs a takeoff runway length of approximately 9,800 to 11,000 feet (3,000 to 3,350 meters). For landing, the requirement is slightly shorter but still substantial, needing around 7,000 feet (2,150 meters) of runway to come to a safe stop at its maximum landing weight. However, these numbers increase significantly at "high and hot" airports (like Denver or Johannesburg), where thin air reduces lift and engine performance, potentially requiring runways up to 14,000 feet. In 2026, the A380 is restricted to "Code F" airports, which are specially designed with wider runways (60 meters) and reinforced taxiways to handle its 80-meter wingspan and the immense pressure exerted by its 22-wheel landing gear system.